FROM HAT BANDS TO PAJAMA TOPS

My 18-inch family*

In December 2016 I walked into my local Dollar Tree and was immediately captivated by a display of Santa hats with Disney-themed brims of lightweight fleece. I've never focused on Disney myself, but my dolls love Disney themes, and Disney makes a nice over-arching theme for all my doll interests, from the '30s to the present. I knew I could do something with those hat brims, and suddenly I saw cozy pajama tops. I bought six hats -- only one dollar each, remember.

I made a good start on the project. First I removed the bands from the hats -- easy to do -- and then I washed them. Nothing bad happened. They came out nice and clean. The bands were folded double, so I had enough fabric to make front and back. For the sleeves, I used a lightweight knit left over from daughter Hallie's childhood. The pants are scraps of fleece and flannel.

This one went to Hazel.

Naturally, Christmas passed -- and January passed (and this was last year, remember) -- and it was time to move on from holiday projects. I tucked all the pieces into an envelope, labeled it, and stashed it in the closet where it remained until December 2017. I still didn't have time to make all the pajamas before Christmas, but I finished one for Hazel, modeled here by Shirley Anne, American Farm Girl. (Yes, I do remember that I posted it before.) Her pajama bottoms were leggings, as I recall.

Mike points out that the girls are all barefooted. We're aware of the need to keep our feet warm at our house, so yes, I guess they will have to have slippers.

I honestly can't tell you why I decided I had to make six of these. I guess I could just see my family of dolls waiting for Santa in their Christmas pajamas, plus I wanted one or two to share with other dolls for whom I sew. KW

*Right to left, the dolls are:
Shirley Anne, American Farm Girl (aka Kit Kittredge), my 1930's farm girl
American Girl Maryellen, 1950s
Esmee, a Tonner "My Imagination" doll, who represents magical themes
American Girl Molly, 1940s
And Lexy, a Madame Alexander "Favorite Friends" doll who has contemporary interests